Isabella II

Isabella II (1830-1904), queen of Spain, (1833-68), the daughter of King Ferdinand VII by his fourth wife, born in Madrid. She was made heir apparent by a decree that set aside the Salic Law forbidding the succession of a woman, and ascended the throne on the death of her father in 1833, her mother Maria Christina being appointed queen regent. An insurrection in favor of her uncle, Don Carlos, raged with great violence until the Carlists were defeated in 1839. In 1846 the queen married her cousin, Don Francisco de Asís. From the time she was declared of age in 1843, Isabella's reign was troubled by intrigues, civil strife, and great political instability. Deposed in the Revolution of 1868, she escaped to France. In 1870 Isabella abdicated in favor of her son, Alfonso, who eventually succeeded to the throne in 1874 as Alfonso XII.